Personal information device and method for downloading reprogramming data from a computer to the personal information device via the PCMCIA port or through a docking station with baud rate conversion means

Abstract

A personal information device is provided in the form of a PCMCIA card and includes a PCMCIA I/O port that is adapted to be coupled to a PCMCIA port of a computer, a first memory that is directly accessible by the computer via the PCMCIA I/O port, second and third memories that are not directly accessible to the computer, and a controller. When the personal information device is inserted into the computer's PCMCIA port, the first memory directly receives and stores therein reprogramming data supplied by the computer. Immediately after the data is downloaded, or alternatively, upon disconnection of the personal information device from the computer, the personal information device's controller transfers to the second memory reprogramming code included in the reprogramming data stored in the first memory, executes the reprogramming code stored in the second memory, and then programs the third memory by utilizing the application code included in the reprogramming data stored in the first memory in accordance with the reprogramming code being executed. The downloaded application code may include organizer application code for the end user, diagnostic code or other types of code. In addition to being able to interface with a computer via the computer's PCMCIA port, the personal information device may communicate with a computer by using a docking station that includes therein a controller and that is capable of changing the baud rate of data serially supplied thereto so as to allow a computer and a personal information device communicating at different baud rates to serially communicate with one another.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A personal information device, comprising: a housing in the form of a PCMCIA card;   a PCMCIA I/O port at one end of the housing and adapted to be coupled to a PCMCIA port of a computer;   a first memory in said housing and coupled to said PCMCIA I/O port, said first memory being directly accessible by the computer via the PCMCIA I/O port when the PCMCIA I/O port of the personal information device is coupled to the computer, said first memory being adapted to receive and store therein reprogramming data having reprogramming code therein supplied from the computer;   a second memory in said housing said second memory not being directly accessible to the computer; and   a controller coupled to said first and second memories, said controller being operable to transfer to said second memory the reprogramming code stored in said first memory, and execute the reprogramming code stored in said second memory said controller transferring to the second memory the reprogramming code stored in the first memory only after the personal information device is disconnected from the computer.   
     
     
       2. A personal information device, comprising: a housing in the form of a PCMCIA card;   a PCMCIA I/O port at one end of the housing and adapted to be coupled to a PCMCIA port of a computer;   a first memory in said housing and coupled to said PCMCIA I/O port said first memory being directly accessible by the computer via the PCMCIA I/O port when the PCMCIA I/O port of the personal information device is coupled to the computer, said first memory being adapted to receive and store therein reprogramming data having reprogramming code therein supplied from the computer;   a second memory in said housing, said second memory not being directly accessible to the computer;   a third memory in said housing; and   a controller coupled to said first and second memories, said controller being operable to transfer to said second memory the reprogramming code stored in said first memory, and execute the reprogramming code stored in said second memory;   wherein said reprogramming data supplied from the computer and stored in the first memory further includes application code therein; and said controller further operates to program the third memory utilizing the application code under the control of the executed reprogramming code.   
     
     
       3. The personal information device of claim 2, wherein the third memory is an auto-erase type flash memory and the execution of the reprogramming code provides for the programming of the flash memory with the application code stored in the first memory. 
     
     
       4. The personal information device of claim 2, wherein the third memory is a flash memory and the execution of the reprogramming code provides for the erasing of the flash memory followed by the programming of the erased flash memory with the application code stored in the first memory. 
     
     
       5. The personal information device of claim 4, wherein said flash memory includes therein a device ID identifying a type of said flash memory; and said controller is operable to query the flash memory in accordance with the executed reprogramming code to identify the type of said flash memory, and erase the flash memory in accordance with the identified type of said flash memory and the executed reprogramming code. 
     
     
       6. The personal information device of claim 4, further comprising a power source for supplying power to said first, second and third memories and said controller; and said controller is operable to ascertain a level of said power source prior to programming the third memory, and the flash memory is erased and then programmed only if the ascertained level of said power source is above a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
       7. The personal information device of claim 2, wherein said controller further is operable to execute the application code programmed into the third memory after the third memory is programmed in accordance with the executed reprogramming code. 
     
     
       8. The personal information device of claim 2, wherein said controller is further operable to diagnose the application code stored in the first memory in accordance with the executed reprogramming code, and program the third memory only upon a successful diagnostic of the application code. 
     
     
       9. The personal information device of claim 2, wherein said reprogramming data supplied from the computer and stored in the first memory includes code update data identifying that said reprogramming data includes reprogramming code; and said controller is operable to detect the code update data stored in the first memory and to transfer to said second memory the reprogramming code stored in said first memory only after the code update data is detected. 
     
     
       10. The personal information device of claim 2, further comprising an input device within the housing and accessible by a user for receiving user-supplied information and a flat panel display within or on said housing and visible to said user for displaying information thereto; and wherein said controller is operable to execute the application code programmed into the third memory and, when the application code is being executed, the controller is responsive to the user-supplied information received by said input device and is operable to control said flat panel display in accordance with the executed application code. 
     
     
       11. The personal information device of claim 10, wherein the controller executes the application code programmed into the third memory after the third memory is programmed. 
     
     
       12. The personal information device of claim 2, wherein said first memory receives and stores therein first reprogramming data supplied from the computer, the first reprogramming data including first application code and first reprogramming code; and said controller transfers to said second memory the first reprogramming code stored in said first memory, executes the first reprogramming code stored in said second memory, and partially programs the third memory utilizing the first application code in accordance with the executed first reprogramming code; and after the third memory is partially programmed,   said first memory receives and stores therein second reprogramming data supplied from the computer, the second reprogramming data including second application code and second reprogramming code; and said controller transfers to said second memory the second reprogramming code stored in said first memory, executes the second reprogramming code stored in said second memory, and further partially programs the third memory utilizing the second application code in accordance with the executed second reprogramming code.   
     
     
       13. The personal information device of claim 12, wherein said controller is operable to detect when the personal information device is disconnected from the computer, and said controller transfers to the second memory the first reprogramming code stored in the first memory only after the personal information device is disconnected from the computer; and said first memory receives and stores therein the second reprogramming data that is supplied from the computer after the computer is reconnected to the personal information device. 
     
     
       14. A method of downloading reprogramming data from a computer to a personal information device in the form of a PCMCIA card, comprising the steps of: directly accessing a first memory of the personal information device by a computer via a PCMCIA I/O port of the personal information device when the PCMCIA I/O port of the personal information device is coupled to a PCMCIA port of the computer;   storing reprogramming data supplied form the computer in the first memory, the reprogramming data including reprogramming code;   transferring to a second memory of the personal information device the reprogramming code stored in the first memory only after the personal information device is disconnected from the computer; and   executing the reprogramming code stored in the second memory.   
     
     
       15. A method of downloading reprogramming data from a computer to a personal information device in the form of a PCMCIA card, comprising the steps of: directly accessing a first memory of the personal information device by a computer via a PCMCI I/O port of the personal information device when the PCMCIA I/O port of the personal information device is coupled to a PCMCIA port of the computer;   storing reprogramming data supplied from the computer in the first memory, the reprogramming data including reprogramming code and application code therein;   transferring to a second memoir of the personal information device the reprogramming code stored in the first memory;   executing the reprogramming code stored in the second memory; and   programming a third memory utilizing the application code under the control of the executed reprogramming code.   
     
     
       16. The method of claim 15, wherein the third memory is an auto-erase type flash memory; and the step of programming the third memory is carried out by programming the flash memory with the application code stored in the first memory. 
     
     
       17. The method of claim 15, wherein the third memory is a flash memory; and the step of programming the third memory is carried out by erasing the flash memory before programming the flash memory with the application code stored in the first memory. 
     
     
       18. The method of claim 15, wherein the flash memory includes therein a device ID identifying a type of the flash memory; the step of executing the reprogramming code includes the step of querying the flash memory to identify the type of the flash memory, and erasing of the flash memory is carried out in accordance with the identified type of the flash memory. 
     
     
       19. The method of claim 15, wherein the personal information device includes a power source; the method further comprising the step of ascertaining a level of said power source; and wherein the steps of erasing and programming the third memory are carried out only if the ascertained level of said power source is above a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
       20. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of executing the application code programmed into the third memory after the third memory is programmed in accordance with the executed reprogramming code. 
     
     
       21. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of executing the reprogramming code includes the step of diagnosing the application code stored in the first memory; and the programming step is carried out only upon a successful diagnostic of the application code. 
     
     
       22. The method of claim 15, wherein the reprogramming data supplied from the computer includes code update data identifying that said reprogramming data includes reprogramming code; said method further comprising the step of detecting the code update data stored in the first memory; and wherein the step of transfer the reprogramming code to said second memory is carried out only after the code update data is detected. 
     
     
       23. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of receiving user information supplied by a user directly to an input device of the personal information device, displaying information on a flat panel display of the personal information device that is visible to the user, executing the application code programmed into the third memory; and responding to the user-supplied information and controlling the information displayed on the flat panel display in accordance with the executed application code. 
     
     
       24. The method of claim 23, wherein the step of executing the application code is carried out after the third memory is programmed. 
     
     
       25. The method of claim 15, wherein the storing step is carried out by storing first reprogramming data supplied from the computer in the first memory, the first reprogramming data including first application code and first reprogramming code; the transferring step is carried out by transferring to the second memory the first reprogramming code stored in the first memory; the executing step is carried out by executing the first reprogramming code stored in the second memory; and the programming step is carried out by partially programming the third memory utilizing the first application code in accordance with the executed first reprogramming code; and after the programming step is carried out, said method repeating the storing, transferring, executing and programming steps using second reprogramming data supplied from the computer, said second reprogramming data including second application code and second reprogramming code.   
     
     
       26. The method of claim 25, further comprising the step of detecting when the personal information device is disconnected from the computer; and wherein the first transferring step is carried out only after the personal information device is disconnected from the computer; and the second storing step is carried out only after the personal information device is reconnected to the computer. 
     
     
       27. A docking station for coupling and for providing for data communication between a personal information device communicating at a first baud rate and a computer communicating at a second baud rate different from said first baud rate, comprising: a PCMCIA port adapted to be coupled to a PCMCIA I/O port of said personal information device;   a serial connector adapted to be coupled to an I/O port of said computer; and   a controller coupled to said PCMCIA port and said serial connector and operable to supply and receive data to and from said personal information device and said computer via said PCMCIA port and said serial connector,   said controller, when serial data is to be supplied from one of said computer and said personal information device to the other of said computer and said personal information device, receiving a plurality of framed bytes supplied by said one of said computer and said personal information device, each of said framed bytes including a respective plurality of bits, each of said bits of a respective framed byte being received at a respective instruction cycle of said controller in accordance with a predetermined routine of said controller,   buffering selected ones of said bits of each respective framed byte;   adding at least one bit to each of said framed bytes, and   serially supplying to said other of said computer and said personal information device each of said bits of a respective framed byte along with the added at least one bit of the respective framed byte, each of the supplied bits of the respective framed byte being supplied at a respective instruction cycle of said controller, the respective instruction cycles at which the bits of a framed byte are received by said docking station being different from the respective instruction cycles at which the bits of a framed byte are supplied from said docking station.     
     
     
       28. A docking station for coupling and for providing for data communication between a personal information device communicating at a first baud rate and a computer communicating at a second baud rate different from said first baud rate, comprising: a PCMCIA port adapted to be coupled to a PCMCIA I/O port of said personal information device;   a serial connector adapted to be coupled to an I/O port of said computer; and   a controller coupled to said PCMCIA port and said serial connector and operable to supply and receive data to and from said personal information device and said computer via said PCMCIA port and said serial connector,   said controller, when serial data is to be supplied from one of said computer and said personal information device, to the other of said computer and said personal information device, receiving a plurality of framed bytes supplied by said one of said computer and said personal information device, each of said framed bytes including a respective plurality of bits, each of said bits of a respective framed byte being received at a respective instruction cycle of said controller in accordance with a predetermined routine of said controller,   buffering selected ones of said bits of each respective framed byte;   adding at least one bit to each of said framed bytes, and   serially supplying to said other of said computer and said personal information device each of said bits of a respective framed byte along with the added at least one bit of the respective framed byte, each of the supplied bits of the respective framed byte being supplied at a respective instruction cycle of said controller,     said controller, when serial data is to be supplied from said other of said personal information device and said computer to said one of said personal information device and said computer, being operable to: serially receive a plurality of framed bytes supplied by said other of said personal information device and said computer, each of said framed bytes including a respective plurality of bits, each of said bits of a respective framed byte being received at a respective instruction cycle of said controller in accordance with a predetermined routine of said controller,   buffer selected ones of said bits of each respective framed byte,   remove at least one of said bits from each of said framed bytes, and   serially supply to said one of said personal information device and said computer each of said framed bytes having at least one bit removed therefrom, each of the bits of a respective supplied framed byte being supplied at a respective instruction cycle of said controller.     
     
     
       29. A method of providing for data communication between a personal information device communicating at a first baud rate and a computer communicating at a second baud rate different from said first baud rate, comprising the steps of: receiving serially supplied data from one of said personal information device and said computer, the received data including a plurality of framed bytes, each of said framed bytes including a respective plurality of bits, and each of said bits of a respective framed byte being received at a respective instruction cycle of a predetermined routine;   buffering selected ones of said bits of each respective framed byte;   adding at least one bit to each of said framed bytes;   serially supplying to the other of said personal information device and said computer each of said bits of a respective framed byte along with the added at least one bit of the respective framed bytes, each of the supplied bits of the respective framed byte being supplied at a respective instruction cycle of said predetermined routine;   serially receiving a plurality of framed bytes supplied by said other of said personal information device and said computer, each of said framed bytes including a respective plurality of bits, each of said bits of a respective framed byte being received at a respective instruction cycle of said predetermined routine;   buffering selected ones of said bits of each respective framed byte;   removing at least one of said bits from each of said framed bytes; and   serially supplying to said one of said personal information device and said computer each of said framed bytes having at least one bit removed therefrom, each of the bits of a respective supplied framed byte being supplied at a respective instruction cycle of said predetermined routine.   
     
     
       30. A personal information device system, comprising: a personal information device in the form of a PCMCIA card;   a PCMCIA I/O port at one end of the personal information device;   a docking station having a PCMCIA connector adapted to be coupled to said PCMCIA port of said personal information device, and a serial connector adapted to be coupled to an I/O port of a computer;   a docking station controller in said docking station and coupled to said docking station's PCMCIA connector and serial connector, said docking station controller being operable to receive a serial transmission at a first baud rate supplied by a computer coupled to the serial connector of said docking station, and to supply a serial transmission at a second baud rate to said personal information device coupled to said PCMCIA connector of said docking station said first and second baud rates being different;   a memory in said personal information device; and   a personal information device controller in said personal information device, said personal information device controller being coupled to said memory and to said PCMCIA I/O port of said personal information device, said personal information device controller being operable to receive the serial transmission supplied from said docking station and to store data represented in said serial transmission in said memory,   said docking station controller being operable to serially receive a plurality of framed bytes supplied by said computer, each of said framed bytes including a respective plurality of bits, each of said bits of a respective framed byte being received at a respective instruction cycle of said docking station controller in accordance with a routine of said docking station controller, said docking station controller buffering selected ones of said bits of each respective framed byte, adding at least one bit to each of said framed bytes, and supplying to said personal information device each of said bits of a respective framed byte along with the added at least one bit of the respective framed byte, each of the supplied bits of the respective framed byte being supplied at a respective instruction cycle of said controller.   
     
     
       31. A personal information device system, comprising: a personal information device in the form of a PCMCIA card;   a PCMCIA I/O port at one end of the personal information device;   a docking station having a PCMCIA connector adapted to be coupled to said PCMCIA port of said personal information device, and a serial connector adapted to be coupled to an I/O port of a computer;   a docking station controller in said docking station and coupled to said docking station's PCMCIA connector and serial connector, said docking station controller being operable to receive a serial transmission at a first baud rate supplied by a computer coupled to the serial connector of said docking station, and to supply a serial transmission at a second baud rate to said personal information device coupled to said PCMCIA connector of said docking station, said first and second baud rates being different;   a memory in said personal information device; and   a personal information device controller in said personal information device, said personal information device controller being coupled to said memory and to said PCMCIA I/O port of said personal information device, said personal information device controller being operable to receive the serial transmission supplied from said docking station and to store data represented in said serial transmission in said memory,   said docking station controller being operable to receive a plurality of framed bytes supplied by said personal information device, each of said framed bytes including a respective plurality of bits, each of said bits of a respective framed byte being received at a respective instruction cycle of said docking station controller in accordance with a routine of said docking station controller, said docking station controller buffering selected ones of said bits of each respective framed byte, removing at least one of said bits from each of said framed bytes, and supplying to said computer each of said framed bytes having at least one bit removed therefrom, each of the bits of a respective supplied framed byte being supplied at a respective instruction cycle of said docking station controller.